A BIG BLAZE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 22, 7 January 1928, Page 5

A BIG BLAZE

IN CUBA ST., WELLINGTON. DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT £15,0000 Wellington, Jan. 7. A serious fire broke out In a softgoods warehouse and factory a on the first and second floors of premises at the corner of Cuba anq Vivian Streets last night and completely gutted both floods, doing damage estimated at £15,000. The ground floor of the premises, which are owned by the Cooper Building Co., Ltd., is occupied by Macduff’s Ltd., ironmongery and crockery merchants, and the second and third floors are occupied by F. Khouri and Co., softgoods manufacturers. Ihe tire, wmeh brokb out on the second floor, Was first noticed by a policeman on the Cuba street beat, who promptly gave the alarm. The Central Fire Brigade was promptly on the scene with four engines, one being from the Constable street station. When the brigadesmen arrived at 10.45 p.m. flames were issuing through the windows of the second floor, and the tire had obtained a good hold of the third floor, which is used as a factory by Khouri and Company, the fancy fabrics used in the manufacture of ladies’ apparel acting as excellent fuel for the flames. There w as a good pressure of water and the strong force of some fifteen brigadesmen soon had the conflagration in hand, but by this time both floors had been completely gutted. The fire demolished the partitions on both floors, and in places burnt holes in the flooring. A “Dominion” reporter, who was conducted over the premises by Super intendent Creke, found an appalling scene of desolation. Although tarpaulins had been spread to save the stock as much as possible from damage by water, little remained of the £1.3,000 worth of stock carried by Khouri and Co., but a few stacks of goods. Valuable ladies’ softgoods had been reduced to ashes on both floors. In the factory, where 35 women were con stantly employed, title remained but charred embers. Mr. F. Khouri informed a “Dominion” reporter last night that he valued his stock at between £12,000 and £13,000. He knew nothing of the fire until he received' a telephone message at his home at Karori telling him his premises were on fire. It was doubly unfortunate that a big consignment of winter goods had just arrived from England on Thursday. the day before the fire. The Cooper Building Company had a cover of £5OOO on the building. Mr. Khouri stated that he would lo a heavy loser through being unable to fulfil the large number of orders the firm had received.